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Canterbury's Tolman ready for Cowboys

Ian McCullough

Canterbury prop Aiden Tolman is under no illusions about the task his side faces on Saturday when they take on a powerful North Queensland side in Gosford.

Last year's minor premiers will be without superstar fullback Ben Barba as he battles his way through off-field issues as well senior forwards in Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard and James Graham.

Kasiano and Pritchard are recovering from groin and leg injuries respectively with English prop Graham serving a 12-match suspension after biting Billy Slater's ear in last year's grand final.

The Cowboys have the Australia Test side's starting front-rowers in Matt Scott and James Tamou in addition to England back-up hooker Scott Moore who makes his debut.

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Former Queensland back-rower Dallas Johnson and the hard-hitting Tariq Sims will also line up for the Cowboys and Tolman is expecting a tough encounter.

"They're a great side with great forwards as well as having guys like Thurston and Bowen," Tolman said.

"It's going to be tough but we have some good players coming in like Marty Taupau, Josh Jackson and Dale Finucane which shows how good our depth is."

The imposing Tony Williams will make his debut for the Bulldogs to add some extra beef to their pack and giant young prop David Klemmer, who weighs in at 120kg and measures 199cm, is likely to make his debut off the bench.

Klemmer is one of the best young forwards in the country and the 19-year-old Australian Schoolboys representative signed a new contract on Friday that will keep him at the club for another three years.

Tolman has been impressed with what he's seen from the NYC player of the year and says he expects him to have a long career.

"He's a big guy. He's about 120kg and he was obviously Toyota Cup player of the year last year so he's got plenty of talent," Tolman said.

"All those things don't mean anything if you don't go out on the field and prove it, so that's what he's got to do now.

"Whatever grade he plays at, he's going to do some damage, so he's just got to go out there and play to his ability and do what the team needs of him."

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has named Steve Turner as fullback in place of Barba, but Drury Low, who's been selected on the wing, could be switched, having trained in the position this week.